Case Study

Liquid Gold: Building of Urinals and Nutrient Recovery

Liquid Gold designs both male and female urinals, including a model of public urinals made out of containers. The urine is then treated and sold to farmers or agriculture industries across South Africa. The pit latrine is a sanitation technology used by the majority of the people in Southern Africa. The current trend of usage shows adaptation of more improved designs.

The urinals are sometimes used to reduce the number of toilets required at a school, which typically reduces the cost per child served. The urinals for girls and women have been used with success in some countries and are easy for young children to use, are cheaper and faster to build than toilets and reduce unpleasant smells for younger children.

Annually, the company treats 150,000 L of water per urinal, it collects 95,000-120,000 L of urine per urinal and it keeps 75-80% of N and P out of the wastewater treatment plant or local waterways. Each unit saves 370 kg of C02 per year. In addition, urinals are up to 80% more hygienic due to no-touch technologies with no transfer of bacteria, especially for young girls and women. It is a source of employment since one micro-entrepreneur creates – for every 100 units – four permanent jobs, especially for women.

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